Sweden’s right-wing government has unveiled a significant increase in the financial incentives offered to migrants who opt to return to their countries of origin. This policy shift follows mounting pressure from Swedish citizens concerned about the impacts of high levels of immigration.
The new plan provides up to $34,000 for each migrant who decides to leave Sweden, marking a 35-fold increase from the previous offer. Over the past three decades, Sweden has experienced a large influx of migrants from third-world nations, particularly from Islamic countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, and Iraq.
Johan Forssell, the newly appointed Migration Minister, has stated that Sweden is in the midst of a “paradigm shift in our migration policy.” Forssell’s move to this role follows his tenure as Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, where he cut the foreign aid budget.
This new policy was announced shortly after Forssell’s reassignment. Conservative Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has been working to address immigration and gang-related issues since taking office two years ago. The policy change aligns with a broader European trend of adopting stricter immigration measures.
Opponents of the policy, mainly from liberal groups, worry that it may hinder migrant integration and exacerbate societal problems. However, the right-wing government argues that the increased incentives are necessary to reduce the burden on Sweden’s welfare system and promote better integration.
